Assimilation of Self and Cosmos

My art begins with self as a starting point and foundation, further questioning the essence of the relationship between self and the world. Living in this seemingly diverse but harmonious universe, I was in pursuit of an absolute and universal spiritual truth, beyond physically visible matters. My art naturally took on an abstract form and it transformed from just a physical product into one where the feelings of my heart and my spiritual contemplation can be encountered.

From inspiration to imagery, I expressed my art through the poetic interplay between color and texture on Hanji, a traditional Korean paper.

I wanted to express the mystery of the universe, the birth of life by love of two worlds: Yin and Yang, or Heaven and Earth. Furthermore, the unification of heaven and earth into one expresses the eternal encounter of creation. In my painting, Heaven and Earth, the circle and the horizon representing heaven and earth are based on this thought.

I wanted to express the world of love and peace entangled with splendid life forms, the individuals in Cosmos whose spiritual lifelines are restored. The painting Relationship of Life expresses all living beings of world which are one body connected to each other within God.

This could be interpreted as willingness to return the self, a spirit, to the Cosmos, heaven and earth, to get a true freedom.

Lee, Sang Bok

Education

POST MFA
Department of Painting, University of Illinois, USA (1993-1994)

MFA & BFA
Department of Painting, Hongik University, Seoul, Korea (1992, 1983)

Art Fairs

  • 2021    IAAS : Incheon Asia Art Show (Songdo Convention Center,Incheon,Korea)
  • 2019    22th Beijing Art Expo (Beijing Exhibition Center, China)Ansan International Art Fair (Ansan Arts Center,Korea)
  • 2018    KIAF Art Seoul (Coex, Seoul, Korea)Contemporary Istanbul (Istanbul, Turkey)Singapore International Art Fair (Suntec Convention Centre, Singapore)
  • 2017     Contemporary Istanbul (Istanbul, Turkey)Asia Contemporary Art Show (Hong Kong)
  • 2016     Seoul Open Art Fair (Coex, Seoul, Korea)Seoul Art Show (Coex, Seoul, Korea)Blanc Bleu Hotel Art Fair (Grand Ambassador Hotel, Seoul, Korea)
  • 2015     Beijing Art Expo (Beijing Exhibition Center, China)
  • 2007     MPA Artfest (McLean, VA, USA)

Awards

  • 2019   3.1 Independence movement 100th Anniversary Stamp Prize ( The National AssemblyCulture, Sport and Tourism Chairman)Japan Osaka Contest Gold Prize (Japan De Pan Art Critic Association)China Central Exhibit Contest Art Critic Prize(China Central Exhibit Contest Committee)
  • 2016     Korea Peace Contribution Grand Prize – Cultural Art & Painting(Korea Peace Contribution Grand Prize Organizing Committee)Customer Satisfaction & Korea Representative Brand Grand Prize – Cultural Art (Sports Dong-A)Best Innovation Business & Brand – Cultural Art (Sports Seoul)
  • 2015     Korea China Cultural Exchange (Korean Cultural Center, Beijing, China)Korean Fine Arts Association President(Embassy of the Republic of Korea / Korean Cultural Center, China)
  • 1987     6th Grand Art Exhibition of Korea (National Museum of Contemporary Art)

Member of Current

  • Korean Fine Arts Association
  • Korea Woman Fine Artists Association
  • Philgrim Group First President

Member of

  • CurrentKorean Fine Arts AssociationKorea Woman Fine Artists AssociationPhilgrim Group First President 
  • FormerAdject Professor of Yongin University & Suwon UniversitySteering Committee of Korea Fine Arts AssociationNowon Fine Arts AssociationKorean Paper Artists Association

    KAAA (Korean American Artists Association)

    MPA (McLean Project for the Arts)

Solo Exhibitions

  • 2021   Naeil Gallery (Seoul, Korea)
  • 2021   SOM Gallery (Seoul, Korea)
  • 2020     Sinsang Gallery (Seoul, Korea)
  • 2019     Jaunje Gallery (Goyang City, Korea)
  • 2017     Artwall Gallery (Seoul, Korea)
  • 2016     Hyehwa Art Center (Seoul, Korea)
  • 2015     Seorak Artist’s Colony Public Art Museum (Inje, Korea)
  • 2015     Kring Gallery (Seoul, Korea)
  • 2009     World Fine Art Gallery (New York, NY, USA)
  • 2008     Ramp Gallery (McLean, VA, USA)
  • 2008     Georgetown Gallery (Washington DC, USA)
  • 2005     Orchard Gallery (Bethesda, MD, USA)
  • 2005     Renaissance Design (Raleigh, NC, USA)
  • 2004     EOS Gallery (Seoul, Korea)
  • 2002     Chongro Gallery (Seoul, Korea)
  • 2000     Art Space HAP Gallery (Hiroshima, Japan)
  • 1999     Chongro Gallery (Seoul, Korea)
  • 1997     Moin Gallery (Seoul, Korea)
  • 1996     Choi Gallery (Seoul, Korea)
  • 1994     Levis Faculty Center (University of Illinois, USA)
  • 1992    Batanggol Gallery (Seoul, Korea)
  • 1990     Kawan Hoon Gallery (Seoul, Korea)

Bibliography

  • 2016     Korean Artist Directory (Korean Fine Arts Association)
  • 2015     International Contemporary Artist vol. X (ICA Publishing, New York, US)
  • 2005     Korean Contemporary Artist vol. IV (Monthly Art World)

Broadcast

  • 2016       Channel 24 KZ (Kazakhstan)
  • 2016       Joy Yong Gu’s Trend Hot Issue (Korea)
  • 2021.10.2.  이상복 작가_ Galaxy  https://youtu.be/PQkmNmCCV80

News

  • 2021.10.30  Ohmynewshttp://www.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/View/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0002783568
  • 2021.10.27  Ami Newshttp://www.aminews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=1066
  • 2021.10.19  Naeil Newshttp://www.naeil.com/news_view/?id_art=402028
  • 2020.06.25  G.ECONOMY(internet)http://www.geconomy.co.kr/news/article.html?no=16606
  • 2018.09.30  Chung Book Ilbo
  • 2017.10.13  Asia News(internet)https://www.anewsa.com/detail.php?number=1229586#
  • 2017.09.02  The Chosun Ilbo
  • 2017.09.01  The Joong Ang Ilbo
  • 2017.09.01  The Dong-A Ilbo
  • 2016         Sports Seoul
  • 2016         Sports Dong-A
  • 2016         Sports.com
  • 2016.12.16  The Eseoulpost.com
  • 2016.12.16  News Cheonji

Magazine

  • 2018   Environmental Media
  • 2017   Economy VIEWPower Korea
  • 2016     Women’s EraPower KoreaComprehensive News Magazine

Group Exhibitions

  • 2022   Korean Woman Fine Artists Association (Geumboseong Art Museum,Seoul, Korea)
  • 2021   Perspective of Contemporary Art (Conseil Gallery, Seoul Korea)The Story of Pyeongchang-dong (Qualia Gallery, Seoul Korea)
  • 2020     Here & Now (ab Gallery, Seoul, Korea)Winter Festival (Art Space Qualia, Seoul, Korea)
  • 2019     Now & Future (Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Japan)China Central TV Invitation Exhibit (the Cultural Palace of Nationalities, China)China Central Exhibition (Qianyuan Xiangyu Hotel, Yeun Gil, China)Osaka Invitation Exhibit (the Cultural Palace of Nationalities, China)Invitation of Vie et Creation (Jaunje Gallery, Bonsalang Gallery, Korea)Monochrome of Creation (The Forest Gallery, seoul, Korea)

    7040 Exhibition (Hoseo Art Space, Seoul, Korea)

    A Happy Accompany (Insa Art Plaza, Seoul, Korea)

    Gihenyeon Exhibition (Godo Gallery, Seoul, Korea)

    100 Artists of 2019 (Art Space gallery, Seoul, Korea)

    14th Annual Celebration Korean American Day (Rayburn House Office Building, USA)

    Seoul Stamp picture Exhibition (National Assembly Hall, Seoul, Korea)

    Vie et Creation (Art Celsi Gallery, Yongsan Gallery)

    Expansion of Contemporary Art (Insa Art Plaza, Seoul)

    Tomorrow different from Yesterday (Museum of Yang Pung)

  • 2018     World Art Festival for Pyeong Chang Olympics (Korea Art Center, Seoul, Korea)Vie et Creation (Ieum Gallery, Seoul, Korea)Japan-Korea Modern art IMPACT Exhibition (Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Japan)100 Artist of 2018 (Art Space Gallery, Seoul, Korea)Seek for Modern Art (Palais de Seoul, Seoul, Korea)Nowon Fine Arts Association (Insa Art Plaza, Seoul, Korea)

    Korea Woman Fine Artists Association (Josunilbo Gallery, Seoul, Korea)

    Korean Contemporary Arts in Uzbekistan (Gallery of Fine Arts, Tashkent, Uzbekistan)

  • 2017     Korea Woman Fine Artists Association (Seoul Arts Center, Seoul)
  • 2016     Vie et Creation (H Gallery, Seoul, Korea)Gwanghwamun International Art Fair (Sejong Museum of Art, Seoul, Korea)Korea Woman Fine Artists Association (Gallery Misulsegye, Seoul, Korea)Nowon Fine Arts Association (Insa Art Plaza, Seoul, Korea)Korea-China International Art Exhibition (Gallery Sinsang, Seoul, Korea)
  • 2015     Independence 70 K-Art Festival (Korean Cultural Center, Beijing, China)Nowon Fine Arts Association (Buk Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul, Korea)Today of Korean Art (Villa Clerici Milano, Italy)Borderfest Korean Fine Arts Show (State Farm Arena VIP Room, Hidalgo, TX, USA)Celebratory Exhibition for the 11st of Nowon Culture & Arts Center 2015(Nowon Culture & Arts Center, Seoul, Korea)
  • 2014     Vie et Creation (Hyehwa Art Center, Seoul, Korea)Handmade Korea Fair (Coex, Seoul, Korea)We are Peacemaker (Gallery Sinsang, Buk Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul,   Korea)
  • 2008     McLean Chamber of Commerce Art Gala (McLean, VA, USA)Another Beginning (Korea Monitor Art Gallery, Annandale, VA, USA)Korean American Artists Association (Rockville, MD, USA)
  • 2007     MPA artfest (McLean Central Park, VA, USA)Korean American Artists Association Exhibition(Korean Cultural Center, Washington DC, USA)
  • 2006     Holiday Exhibition (Orchard Gallery, MD, USA)
  • 2004     Global Art in New York (World Trade Art Gallery, NY, USA)Korea Woman Fine Artists Association Exhibition (Seoul Art Center, Seoul, Korea)
  • 2003     Hongik Woman Artists Association (Art Center of Hongik University, Seoul, Korea)Boondang Artists Festival (Samsung Plaza Gallery, Seoul, Korea)
  • 2002     Moderne Malerie aus Korea (Galerie Forum, Wiesbaden, Germany)Material of Paper (Chongro Gallery, Seoul, Korea)Korea Woman Fine Artists Association Exhibition (Seoul Arts Center, Seoul, Korea)Hongik Woman Artists Association (Art Center of Hongik University, Seoul, Korea)Boondang Artists Festival (Samsung Plaza Gallery, Sungnam, Korea)
  • 2001     Korean Paper Artists Association (Batanggol Art Center, Yangpyung, Korea)Korea Woman Fine Artists Association Exhibition (Seoul Arts Center, Seoul, Korea)Hongik Woman Artists Association (Seoul City Museum, Seoul, Korea)Boondang Artists Festival (Samsung Plaza Gallery, Sungnam, Korea)
  • 2000     Jeonju Paper Culture Festival (Hyundai Department Store, Jeonju, Korea)Korean Paper Artists Association (Sang Gallery, Seoul, Korea)Korea Woman Fine Artists Association (National Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul,Korea)Hongik Woman Artists Association (Chongro Gallery, Seoul, Korea)Boondang Artists Festival (Samsung Plaza Gallery, Sungnam, Korea)
  • 1990     Salon Grands et Jeunes D’Aujord’hui (Grand Palais, Paris, France)